Why can't Connecticut be more like Massachusetts? Our neighbor to the north repeatedly outperforms Connecticut when it comes to jobs, state budgets and economic competitiveness. Massachusetts is similar in demographics, income and education to Connecticut, and its successes may offer lessons on how to manage state government. Most recently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a positive jobs picture in Massachusetts that is "significantly different from that of the U.S. " and substantially stronger than in Connecticut.

HARTFORD — Police charged a Massachusetts woman Sunday with illegally selling alcohol and food from a stand in Colt Park. Eufemia Arevalo, 49, of Holyoke, Mass., was charged with sale of alcohol without a permit and vending without a permit after officers saw her selling food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from a stand in the park, police said. She did not have proper permits, police said.

A large chunk of Connecticut is being drawn into a new orbit: Massachusetts draws us in through gaming and transportation. No longer willing to cede the world of casino gambling to Connecticut, the Bay State has commenced a long process to license three casinos, one of which will be in western Massachusetts. Two significant proposals for new trains would allow us to get to and from the state faster and frequently. The process got off to a bad start . Springfield's city government hired a consultant to help it review proposals.

State Workers' Compensation Commissioner Stephen B. Delaney and his wife last year joined a delegation from Westfield State University on a trip to Cuba in apparent violation of federal travel restrictions related to U.S. economic sanctions, according to a Massachusetts inspector general's report. In March 2013, then-Westfield State President Evan S. Dobelle — who resigned late last year amid scandal — led an "educational delegation" that accompanied the school's baseball team to Cuba for exhibition games against a Cuban squad.

By KELLY GLISTA, Kglista@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, February 23, 2013

A silver alert for a missing 17-year-old woman was canceled just after noon on Saturday. Luanelly "Nelly" Rodriguez was found at an address in Massachusetts unharmed and without incident at approximately 11 a.m., police said. Police could not say if there was any truth to the initial report that she may have been kidnapped. The alert was issued for Rodriguez around 7:30 Friday night. Rodriguez had last been seen on Ledgewood Drive at 2:30 p.m. Friday, police said. Rodriguez went out for a walk, and a short while later sent her aunt a text asking for help, police said.

Massachusetts legislators are considering raising that state's minimum wage to $10 over the next two years. It's now now $8, or 25 cents below Connecticut's bottom wage. The increase would come in three stages, first at $8.75, then at $9.50 and last at $10, the bill says. The bill advanced through a commttee vote this week, but according to published reports, the bill's sponsor said it's quite possible the bill would take a year or two to build support. Local advocates of increasing Connecticut's minimum wage hailed the fact that the Massachusetts proposal passed out of committee.

A 42-year-old Massachusetts man suspected of stealing $1,100 worth of printer ink cartridges from a Target store in February is being extradited to Connecticut, police said. Jose Roman, who is from Springfield, was arrested Wednesday in Middleton, Mass. He is charged with fourth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny. Roman is being held with bail set at $5,000. He is scheduled to appear Thursday at Superior Court in Manchester. Store security footage shows Roman filling a hand basket with the cartridges and running out of the store with them, police said.

As if everyone wasn't already running for office, the Upset of the Century in Massachusetts may entice even more candidates. It's true, you can't go to a political event in Connecticut without new candidates rising like hungry trout to the surface of a lake on a summer evening. At a forum in Cromwell for candidates running for governor sponsored by the Connecticut Council of Small Towns on Wednesday morning, I had a hard enough time keeping track of the seven candidates on the dais, one who couldn't make it and a couple of others who were working the crowd.

By DAVE ALTIMARI, daltimar@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, January 3, 2012

Massachusetts authorities Tuesday identified a suspect in the unsolved 1993 homicide of a 10-year-old girl. The suspect is David Edmund Pouliot, who died in 2003. Holly Piirainen was last seen alive on Aug. 5, 1993 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Her remains were found on Oct. 23 1993 in Brimfield, Mass. Officials aren't providing details of DNA evidence that links Pouliot. He had a criminal record.

A casino in Springfield, Mass., is not a done deal - yet. But last week's announcement by the Massachusetts gambling commission that it would award a license to MGM Resorts brings the proposed $800 million project one step closer. Take it from your neighbor to the south: When it comes to casino gambling, Massachusetts should proceed cautiously. Whether a casino is built in Springfield now depends on whether the Massachusetts high court says a casino-repeal measure can appear on the state ballot in November.

This time of year, local families tend to spend their down time outside - camping in parks, relaxing on the beach, dining al fresco, and attending outdoor concerts. But with the arrival of Great Wolf Lodge New England, a 40-acre destination resort with a 68,000-square foot indoor waterpark, many families are heading to north-central Massachusetts to explore the great indoors. The 100,000-square-foot lodge is the 12th in a chain operated by Great Wolf Resorts, based in Madison, Wis. It opened June 5 in Fitchburg, Mass., an under-the-radar locale 90 minutes from Hartford and within a three hour drive of millions of New Englanders.

Big Y has presented a donation of $10,000 to Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, the state's premier youth mentoring organization. The funds, generated by the recent 33rd Annual Paul and Gerald D'Amour Memorial Charity Golf Outing, will be used to move children off Nutmeg's waiting list and into productive, life-affirming match relationships with caring adult role models. "We are grateful to Big Y for its very generous donation," said Andy Fleischmann, President and CEO of Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters.

By FRANK RIZZO, frizzo@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, July 8, 2014

The show: "June Moon" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Mass. What makes it special?: It's the first main stage show of the 60th season of the famed summer theater in the Berkshires - and a production of a rarely-produced comedy by George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner. First impressions?: A well-produced summer delight, capturing the energy and spirit of Tin Pan Alley song writers and the can-do American optimism on the eve of the 1929 stock market crash.

By CHRISTINE DEMPSEY, cdempsey@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, July 7, 2014

BROCKTON, Mass. - A Connecticut state medical examiner was found not guilty Monday of charges of perjury and intimidation of a witness. Dr. Frank Evangelista was one of three people to testify during the unusual, one-day trial in Massachusetts that pitted him against a prosecutor. Evangelista, who used to work as a medical examiner in Massachusetts, was accused of lying on the witness stand and trying to block the prosecution of a murder suspect. In Massachusetts, the law governing witness intimidation incorporates elements of obstruction of justice.

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT, msturdevant@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, June 24, 2014

The high court in Massachusetts ruled Tuesday that a petition to effectively ban casinos will go to a vote in November, potentially erasing plans for destination resorts in Springfield and Greater Boston. At the least, the decision delays the start of construction on the $800 million MGM Resorts International casino in Springfield by five months or more. If voters repeal the law, it could upend the project and other proposals for casinos in Greater Boston and in southeastern Massachusetts.

By JENNY WILSON, jenwilson@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, June 23, 2014

Former NFL player and Bristol native Aaron Hernandez was taken from the Massachusetts jail he is being held in to a hospital Saturday. Bernard Sullivan, a spokesman for the Bristol County Sheriff in Massachusetts, said he could not say anything about why Hernandez was taken to the hospital because of privacy laws. Hernandez is being held at the Bristol County Jail in North Dartmouth, Mass. He would only say Hernandez "was at the hospital briefly" Saturday morning. "He needed attention, they took care of it," Sullivan said.

BRISTOL — Catcher Ryan McCormick hit a home run in Rhode Island's first at-bat and a grand slam before the first inning was over. By the time Massachusetts got the final out, the team from Cumberland, R.I., had an 8-3 lead and was well on its way to a 13-7 victory Saturday in the New England Regional and a berth in the Little League World Series. Cumberland is the sixth team from Rhode Island to earn a World Series berth and the first since 2004. It will face the West Regional champion Friday in Williamsport, Pa. McCormick also had a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning and finished 3-for-3 with six RBI. Jacob Glod, Max Hanuschak and Christopher Wright also homered for Rhode Island, which reached the championship game with an 8-7 victory over Fairfield American in the semifinals on Thursday.

A casino in Springfield, Mass., is not a done deal - yet. But last week's announcement by the Massachusetts gambling commission that it would award a license to MGM Resorts brings the proposed $800 million project one step closer. Take it from your neighbor to the south: When it comes to casino gambling, Massachusetts should proceed cautiously. Whether a casino is built in Springfield now depends on whether the Massachusetts high court says a casino-repeal measure can appear on the state ballot in November.

Kyle Gallo of Kensington tied for second after losing a four-player playoff in the Massachusetts Open. Boston native Ian Thimble won the title and the $15,000 first prize by being 1-under par in the three-hole aggregate playoff against Gallo, Eric Dugas and amateur Matt Parziale. The quartet was tied after regulation at 211. Cody Paladino of Kensington shot a 71 to tie for 15th (215). Gallo carded a 71 in the third round.